System and apparatus for starting internal-combustion engines.



J. 0. BOYLE. j SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIGATION FILED MAJLZ G, i910.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

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ATTORNEYS I 1.0. .BOYLE. v SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING INTBRNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

- APPLIOATIONYPILED MAR.26, 1910. 1,022,926. Patented Apr. 9,1912. I

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ATTORNEYS J.O.BOYLE. v I SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING INTERNAL'OOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIGATION FILED MAILZG, 1910. v Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

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2 s m2 2. "0 M F. 0 2 2 MC A a Z W Jim-.BQYLE; SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING INT EPRNAL COMBUSTION BNOINES.

MEILIQA'ITON iILED MARLZG, 1910.

- Patented Ap1 '.9,1912.v

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WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS ITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

JAMES o. BOYLE, or CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA.

I SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912..

Application filed March 26, 1910. Serial No. 551,610.

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, JAMES C. BOYLE, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and a resident of Calgary, in the Province of 'Alberta and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and Improved System and Apparatus for Starting Internal Combustion En gines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide a system for storing gas under compression to be admitted to an engine cylinder when the mechanical parts thereof are in position to receive an operative explosion therein; to provide means for introducing gas under pressure to the cylinder of an engine'of the type specified when the piston thereof is in position to receive the explosive impact; to provide means vfor compressing gas for introduction into cylinders of engines of the character specified, utilizing therefor the piston of said engine; to provide means in an internal combustion engine employing; a plurality of power cylinders, for selectively controlling the passage of gas therein to that cylinder only wherein the intake and ex- "haust ports are closed; and to provide means .for insuring the richness of the gas-when delivered from the compression system.

' One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a multiple unit Internal combustion engine having applied thereto a starting system constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a verticahsection taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1, the valves, electrical contacts' and valve operating mechanism being .shown in partly diagrammatic manner to the more clearly indicate the correlated action of the various members; Fig. 3 1s a vertical section of the cylinder and valve chamber of an internal (combustion engine having applied thereto a starting system constructed and ar ranged in accordance with the present in vention, the section being taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail view in vertical section, ;illustratin the operating device for' admitting the c large to a dead engine; F ig.-5 etail View in plan, showing the arrangement of the inlet and outlet ducts of the unitcylinder employed as a compres sion pump, together with electrical devices for controlling the ignition system; Fig. 6 is a detail view in plan, of adjustable electrical contacts for controllin the admission cock ofthe compressed gas elivery system; Fig.

7 is a detail view in cross section, of the head of the cock controlling the inlet of gas under" compression to the various cylinders; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view in vertical cross section of the contact collar mounted on the lifting pins'of the cock operating mechanism.

The presentinvention is particularly ap plicable to the multiple unit type of engine, and consists in the employment for short periodsof .one of-the cylinders as a compression pump forholding the explosive mixture under compression at which the same may be exploded when introduced in the various explosion cylinders of the engine.- For this purpose, one of the cylinders, that indicated in' the present drawings as 11,1is connected by means of a pipe 26 with a reservoir 27.

During such operation onthepart of the cylinder 11 the reservoir 27 is in open communication with the cylinder of ,the engine and the explosive chamber C thereof. It is to control the opening of the pipe 26 that l have provided the valve 20, and the lever 24 and rod 36 for turning the said valve.

The rod 36 is suitably mounted in the dashboard A of the automobile, and is'provided with a handle 35 on the inner side of the said dashboard. v

When in the operation of the machine the rod 36 is drawn in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the

valve 20 is rotated to open the communica-' inders of the engine. During the operation of the crank shaft of the engine the lay shaft E lifts, in the regular intervals, the

intake and exhaust valves D, D of the cylinder 1,1 in the same manner as when the said cylinder'll is receiving, compressing and exploding the fuel charge. It is to prevent the ignition of the fuel charge that the ignition circuit controlling the explosion in chamber C of the cylinder 11. .tric circuit referred to includes the coil wlre 75, which is connected with the arm 33 and to the structure of the spark plug which is electrically connected with one of the terminals 77 which is insulated from the frame of the engine. The said circuit also includes the coil wire 76, which is electrically connected to the extension 65 of the lever 25.

The extension 65 and the arm 33, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, each forms a metallic and electric contact with the wiper 37. The wiper 37, it will be understood, is insulated at 37* from the frame of the engine and forms a bridge between the arm 33 and the extension 65. The terminal 77 opposite that with which the wire 75 is connected, is electrically connected with the frame of the engine. The frame of the engine is suitably connected with one pole of an electric source, not shown in the drawings. The wire 76 is connected with the 0pposite pole of this electric source, thus completing the sparking circuit through the terminal 77. It will be understood that-.the usual construction for circuits of this character having magnetos and spark sustainers, may be employed. The end of the extension 65 which contacts with the wiper 37, must be insulated from the lever 25 of the frame of-the engine. a

The fuel charge is supplied to the cylinders 11, 12, 1'3 and 14 by means of a supply pipe F which connects with the valve chest 15, entering the same below the valves D, D. The upper chamber 16 of the valve chest 15 in each of the cylinders is perforated to receive a union 17. The unions 17 form a connection for the pipes 18 and 19 with the cylinder 11 and theexplosive chamber thereof. In each of thecylinders 12, 13 and. 14 the union 17 connects with the pipe 19 only. The pipe 19 is connected with the pipe 32, which pipe is connected with reservoir 27.

. Each of the pipes 19 has mounted thereon a valve 21, which valves are operated by the levers 25 under certain conditions to be hereinafter set forth, the said levers being connected with the rod 62, which rod is manually operated by means of the handle 54 mounted in the dashboard A of the {LUtO1110 bile, asseen in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

When in the course of operation of an engine thus. constructed and arranged the chauffeur desires to employ the cylinder 11 for the purpose of increasing thepressure of the explosive fuel in the reservoir 27, he reaches forward, grasping the handle 35 to draw the same inward, thereby moving the lever 24 and the valve 20 connected therewith to open the communication between the pipe 26 and the reservoir 27, the check valve 30 opening on the reservoir side of its seat. As explained, the mechanical operation of the valves D, Dand lay shaft E continues as though the cylinder 11 was performing its function as a crank driving member. As stated, the spark plug 77 is disconnected from the electric source, and while the arm is separated from the wiper 37 the spark in the cylinder 11 is discontinued. l/Vhile the cylinder 11 is thus arranged the fuel charge is taken into the cylinder, and by the action of the piston B ejected outward therefrom through the chamber 16, the union 17,

.pipes 18 and 26,- into the reservoir 27 and against the pressure thereof. This operation Wlll continue until the pressure in the reservoir equals the pressure of the explosive compression in each of the cylinders 11 to 14 inclusive. This pressure is ascertained or shown m'the gage 29. It is to prevent undue'pressure being introduced in the reservoir that the sameis provided with a safety valve 28 of any approved type.

When, in the opinion of the chaufieur, the fuel in the reservoir 27 is under'suflicient pressure the handle 35 is moved to close the valve 20, cutting 03 thecommunication between the chamber C of the cylinder 11 and the reservoir. In closing the valve 20 the arm 33 1s moved into contact with the wiper 37, and the electric sparking circuit through the terminals 7 7 of the spark plug 34 is reestablished. From this oint on'the cylin-' der 11 becomes an exploslve engine-unit exploding its fuel charges in manner similar to and in timed relation with the other cylinders 12, 13 and 14.

The compressed fuel contained in thereservoir 27 is utilized for charging one of the cylinders 11 to 14 inclusive for the purpose of starting the engine. To do this the levers 25 are shifted to rotate one of the valves 21, 21 mounted on the pipes 19 to admit a fuel charge from the pipe 32 and reservoir 27 to the chamber C of the cylinder in which the valves D, D are both closed, and in which cylinder the parts are in position to receive an explosion. It will be seen that the charge when thus introduced to the ready cylinder is of a compression approximating nearly the usual compression under which the engine works. It is to prevent the ignition of the charge that I have provided the extension 65 there-- from, which extension forms a part of the igniting circuit when in cont-act with the wiper 37. The levers 25, when moved to Q 67, the threaded end 68 whereof engages a ferred-from the reservoir 27 throughfthe .pipe 32 to one of the cylinders 11, 12, 13,

1 14.- After the interval necessary to charge the said cylinder the rod 62 is manipulated by the handle .54 to close the said valves .21,

. imprisoning the fuel charge in the cylinder which received the same. ,thevalves 21 the extension 65 In closing is brought in contact with the wiper 37, thereby reestablishing the sparking electric circuit.

By advancing or manipulating the sparking mechanism as in the usual manner the ignition spark may now be produced by the chauffeur, when the fuel charge delivered to i B in the'sa-id cylinder to move outward on the cylinder is exploded, causing the piston its power stroke, and to rotate the crank shaft to operate the other cylinders ofthe engine. If it should happen that one charge of one cylinder is not suflicient to start the engine, the charge may be repeated in, the

same cylinder by again manipulating the handle 54 and-the rod 62, connected therewith to open the valve 21 on said cylinder:

in the manner described, to transfer a second charge OfBXPlOSlVQ fuel from the reser- 1 voir 27 to the said cylinder. The action as above described is again repeated, being impossibletoignite the charge until the rod 62 is manipulated to close the valves 21.

The electrical connections shown best in Fig.6 of the drawings are employed to opcrate-only on the cylinder where both of the valves D, D are-firmly seated, in which position the cylinder is prepared to receive a fuel charge.

In the present, invention I have interposed between the valve stems and the cams of the lay shaftE lift pins 38, 38. The pins 38, 38 are provided at their upper ends with 'a disk The disk 39 is hollowed on the under side to form a narrow edged down turned flange 66. The disk 39 is held in position on the pin 38 by means'of a screw threaded perforation on one side of the disk 39'. 'At near the saw-cutend of the said drawings.

screw 67' is provided a groove 69 to receive the end of'a. lock screw 7 O, which is threaded to engage a threaded perforation in the disk 39, substantially as shown in Fig. f the The pin 38 is independently mounted in the frame of the engine, and is provided with a shoe 40. The shoe 40 is held down upon the surface of the cam Gbv means of a-spiral spring 41'. The pins 38 provide a clearance of approximately nd of an inch between the lower ends of the valve stems and the top of the pins 38, andwhen the said stems'and pins are in their lowermost position. t v of the pins that the disks 39 will form elecformed on the plunger 50. which is connected with the bell crank 47 is in this position trical c'ontactwith the ends 42, 42 of the le- 'Vers 43, 43.

There is a lever 43 provided for each of the valves D, D. The levers 43 are pivotally mounted, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and are connected with the rod 44 tomaintain'the relative position sub-g stantially as shown in said Fig. 6. The rod 44 is connected with the plunger 50 by means of a crank arm 49, a pull rod 48 and.

a bell crank 47, which bellcrank is pivotally mounted in suitable relation upon the frame of the automobile. The bell. crank' 47 and rods connected therewith are held in the normal position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 by means of a spiral spring 47*.

The plunger 50 is connected with the rod '62 by means of the ball and socket joint 63 and isslidably mounted in the thimble 51. Thethimble 51 is provided with a slot 53 to receive inguided relation the arm 49 "The arm 49 by the rod 48 is normally held in the'posi tion shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this position the rod 44 is moved to throw the levers 43 out of the path of the collars 39. When to, draw upon the rod 62 the plunger 50 is rotated to draw the arm 49 into the slot 53, the rod 48 and arm of the bell crank 47 to which it is connected are lifted which throws the rod 44 away from the pivot of'the bell crank and rocks the levers 43 to insert the ends 42 in the path of the collars 39.

It will be understood that the connection bet-ween the bell crank 47 and the rod 48 is sufiiciently flexible 'to permit the said rod to sway laterally at'the end connected with the arm 49. It will also be understood that when the arm 49 is disposed in a horizontal position the connecting pin on the said arm is sufiiciently removed from the plunger 50 to avoid contact with the rod 48 when the arm 49 is drawn within the slot- 53.

The above described action of the handle 54, plunger 50 and arm 49 insures that the rod 44 is thrust forward to rotate the levers 43, 43 to present the ends 42', 42 under the, flange 66 of each disk 39 preliminary to the pull ofthe rod 62, which throws the levers 25 to open the valves 21.-

Each lever 25 is connected with an electric 'source'by ametalliccircuit embodying the The head 56 is constructed from suitable material to operate as an armature for the said magnet 45. The head 56 is depressed through the disk 46 fixedly mounted on the stem of the valve 21 and supporting the lever 25, which lever is pivotally mounted on the said valve stem. When the head 56 is drawn downward into the perforation provided in the disk 46, the disk 46, extension and valve 21 are rotated with the said lever 25. The disk 46 and lever 25 are thus rotated when the electric circuit is completed through any set of ends 42, 42, terminal wires 11, and 2?, connecting wire 0 and the magnet 45. The circuit is coinpleted on that one of the cylinders 11, 12, 18, 14 in which the two valves D, D are both seated,

and the disks 39, 39 under the said valves are in contact with the ends 42, 42 on the levers 43, 43 belonging to said cylinder. In the drawings, and in Fig. 2, this position is illustrated as relating to cylinder 13.

' When the parts of the engine are disposed as illustrated in 'Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the chauffeur desires to charge one of the cylinders of his engine, he rotates the handle 54 and plunger 50 connected therewith so that he may retract the said handle and the rod 62 to throw open the valves 21, 21. In doing this he rotates the various levers 43 under the various disks 39 to cause contact between the said levers and disks, provided the disks are in position to make contact. In this manner there is selected the cylinder which is in condition to receive the charge. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings this cylinder is designated 13. The circuit is then established between the main m, the branch wire a, the ends 42 on the one lever 43, through the connecting wire 0 to the end 42 ofthe other lever 43, through the branch wire 79, through the magnet 45, the branch wire 1 the inain s and the electric source, whatever that may be. The circuits! in each of the other cylinders .11, 12 and 14 are not completed, therefore the magnet 45 on the lever 25 assigned to the cylinder 13 looks the said lever 25 and the disk 46 in operative position. When now the chauffeur pulls the handle 54, plunger 50 and rod 62 to rotate the levers 25, 25 it is only the one lever 25 which turns the disk 46, and that is the one connected with the cylinder 13 in which the two valves 21, 21 are seated.

As above described, after the charging of the cylinder the handle 54 and parts connected therewith are returned to the normal position, leaving the charge under pressure in the cylinder 13, and reestablishing the ignition circuit to explode the charge within the said cylinder or to place the same in condition to be ignited by advancing the spark,

- or otherwise.

The levers 43 are mounted upon pivots 73, and are supported by springs 74.

. said means being Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and starting means therefor comprising intake and exhaust valves for each cylinder; a reservoir for compressed explosive fuel; conduits connecting each of said cylinders and said reservoir; controls for said. conduits; means for operating said controls to open said conduits singly; and means for selecting the one of said controls to be operated, said means including the intake and exhaust valves of each cylinder when both are in closed position in one cylinder.

2. A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and starting means therefor comprising intake and exhaust valves for each cylinder; a reservoir for compressed explosive fuel; conduits connecting each of said cylinders and said reservoir; a plurality of valves disposed in said conduits; a connecting rod normally disengaged from each of the said valves and adapted for engagement therewith; an eleetro-actuated means for engaging said valves with said rod singly,

disposed in operative position when the intake and exhaust valves in one of said cylinders are closed.

3. In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and starting means therefor embodying a reservoir for compressed explosive fuel; conduits connecting each of said cylinders and said reservoir; a plurality of valves for said conduits; a plurality of levers loosely mounted one on each of said valves; a plurality of members, one fixedly mounted on each of said valves adjacent said levers; locking mechanisms electroactuated to lock said members and said levers; and a plurality of electric circuits for actuating said locking mechanisms, each of said circuits being completed when the intake valve and exhaust valve in any one cylinder are in closed position.

4. In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and starting means therefor embodying a reservoirior compressed explosive fuel; conduits connecting each of said cylinders and said reservoir; a plurality of valves for said conduits a plurality of leyers loosely mounted one gn'e'ach of said valves; a plurality of members, one fixedly mounted on each of said valves adj acent said levers; locking mechanisms electro-actuated to lock said members and said levers; a plurality of electric circuits for' actuating said locking mechanisms embedyi the valve stems of the intake and exhaust valves of said engine and only when said valves are in closed position; and manually operable means for closing said circuits.

,5. In a multi-cylinder internal combustidn engine and starting means therefor tion engine and starting means therefor; a

levers; a plurality of electric circuits for means for opening said valves, electro-act-uembodying a reservoir for compressed explosive fuel; conduits connecting each of said cylinders and said reservoir; a pliifrality of valves for said conduits; a plurality of levers loosely mounted one on each of said valves; a plurality of members, one fixedly mounted on each of said valvesxad jacent said-levers; locking mechanisms electro-actuated .to lock said members and said actuating said locking mechanisms embodying the valve stems of the intake and exhaust valves only when said valves are in closed position; and means manually and simultaneously operable for closing the one of said circuits to operate the locking mechanism connected with the cylinder in which both the intake and exhaust valves are closed, and to shift the lever connected with oneof the said members by said actuated locking mechanism to openthe valve in that cylinder..

6. In a -multi-cylinder internal combusplurality of explosive fuel supply valves,

ated locks to connectsaid means for opening i said valves-and a plurality of connected electric switches for operating said locks, the

contact ends of said switches being bifur cated and electrically unconnected, said bifurcated. ends being adapted for electric con- I duits connecting each of said cylinders and said reservoir, and a plurality of valves for said conduits; a plurality of switcheseach having bifurcated ends, said ends being electrically disconnected and adapted for connection by contact with the stems of the intake and exhaust valves of said cylinders; an electric connection between one of the bifurcated ends of one switch and one of the bifurcated ends of the other switch; and means for moving said switch into contact with said valve stems when said valves are closed.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES C. BOYLE.

Witnesses:

F. H. HONEYWELL, J. F. Roomas'ran. I

copies otflfis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. G. 

